Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 77

The Eastern Sea was scattered with countless islands. Before coming here, Jiang Si had already expected that their journey would be full of challenges. But she didn’t expect trouble to find them even this far from the Eastern Sea itself.

The nearest island was at least half a day’s journey away, so the ambush they had just faced might actually be a common occurrence in these waters.

This region was known as a place outside of any official control. Pirates ran wild here without consequences.

Luckily, Jiang Si had come well-prepared. She wasn’t truly worried.

Mowan Ci sat beside her, watching quietly. When she looked at Jiang Si, her lips moved slightly, but she said nothing.

Jiang Si turned to her with a light smile. “What do you want to ask?”

She hadn’t meant to keep any of this from Mowan Ci. But ever since their silent disagreement, she hadn’t explained her plans on her own.

If Mowan Ci wanted to know, she would tell her everything honestly.

But instead of asking anything about strategies or the mission, Mowan Ci said, “Would you like more milk tea? I can make some for you.”

Jiang Si was surprised for a moment, then nodded.

Mowan Ci stood and began preparing the tea. Her movements were calm and steady, just like before.

She truly wasn’t afraid.

It was Jiang Si who felt uneasy.

Every time danger appeared, Jiang Si would feel a sense of fear and helplessness. Her mind would fill with the worst possibilities.

Outside, the sound of fighting grew louder. Mowan Ci remained unfazed. When the tea was ready, she set the cup down in front of Jiang Si.

“Drink it while it’s hot. I used less sugar this time. It should suit your taste better.”

Her calmness helped Jiang Si steady her own heart. She placed her silver spear aside and picked up the cup.

Just as Mowan Ci had said, the tea was not too sweet. It had a soft fragrance and a rich, creamy taste.

Jiang Si took a sip, then looked at her. “Did you change the tea leaves?”

Mowan Ci didn’t answer the question directly. She asked instead, “Do you like it?”

“I do.”

“It’s Yunwu tea. I noticed you don’t like strong flavors, so I made the choice to use this instead.”

“It’s exactly the kind of taste I like.”

The tea had cooled a little. Jiang Si finished the cup in one go. Only then did she realize how tense she had been this whole time. Now, her body and mind were finally starting to relax.

Mowan Ci poured her another cup, and this time Jiang Si drank it slowly.

The sound of fighting outside began to fade. Mowan Ci led her to the game table and handed her the black stones.

“What’s the plan once we enter the Eastern Sea?”

Both of them understood the real reason for this journey. What Mowan Ci wanted was the detailed plan. This was their first serious conversation about it since they set out.

Jiang Si understood that Mowan Ci had let go of her hesitation for the time being. She herself should do the same. So she explained everything clearly.

She had already sent the vanguard unit of the Jingwei Camp ahead to scout the area. The landing point on one of the islands had been chosen, and she described the general location. Mowan Ci listened quietly and nodded.

When it came to playing Go, Jiang Si had always been far behind Mowan Ci. As she spoke, her moves on the board were casual and distracted.

Suddenly, Mowan Ci tapped the back of her hand and said firmly, “Playing Go is like facing a battlefield. You cannot be careless.”

“Alright.”

After being scolded, Jiang Si finally focused. But her skill was still limited. Even with the advantage of going first with the black stones, she lost completely.

After the match, Mowan Ci reset the board. They played again and again until the sound outside disappeared. Then she set down her pieces and stood up.

“You should go out now.”

“After a night of fighting, the soldiers from Jingwei Camp are probably waiting for you to handle rewards and punishments. And those pirates still need to be dealt with.”

Mowan Ci looked even more confident than Jiang Si. She yawned, sat on the bed, and said nothing more as Jiang Si started changing into her uniform.

Jiang Si knew she had kept Mowan Ci up all night and that she had been exhausted even before dawn. She didn’t argue. She picked up her silver spear and walked out quietly.

As she was closing the door, she heard Mowan Ci speak softly from behind.

“I’ll wait for you to come back.”

“I will…”

Outside, Wu Tai stepped forward and gave his report.

“Your Highness, we have finished questioning them. These pirates are native to the Eastern Sea. Most of them live in tribal communities. The Kunze raise children, the Zhongyong make their living through fishing, and the Qianyuan are the ones active on the sea. They attack passing ships and steal supplies.”

Jiang Si nodded slightly. She looked toward the row of captured Qianyuan men and women kneeling in front of her.

With a faint smile, she asked, “So this time, they picked us as their target?”

“Yes. I questioned their leader. He said they only acted because they saw the ship looked luxurious. It was an impulsive decision. They had no real plan.”

Wu Tai was trying to explain the situation as clearly as possible and share his own thoughts at the same time.

Jiang Si agreed. Judging by how poorly equipped they were, it didn’t seem like they had planned anything.

They were simply desperate.

Jiang Si looked again at the group, then pointed to a female Qianyuan in the middle who was sitting the straightest.

“How many people are in your tribe?”

The woman glared at Jiang Si and stayed silent.

Wu Tai gave a signal, and the guards pushed her forward.

Still, she remained defiant.

“Victory belongs to the strong. Kill me or torture me. Do whatever you want.”

Jiang Si realized then. This woman was not afraid for herself. She was afraid that Jiang Si might threaten her family.

Jiang Si gave a faint smile. She didn’t explain her intentions. Instead, she stood and said calmly, “Hundreds of years ago, before the three kingdoms divided, the Eastern Sea was a place of exile. After long years of war and natural changes, this place became wild and chaotic. A place people would rather avoid.”

“Do you know why?”

“Because over time, the criminals sent here became the ancestors of today’s tribes. And they have lived through generations filled with nothing but survival.”

“Every day, struggling just to stay alive.”

“What did you say?” the woman shouted suddenly. Her expression twisted with anger as she lunged at Jiang Si.

Jiang Si didn’t even bother to dodge. The female Qianyuan was quickly restrained again. Her eyes burned with fury as she glared at Jiang Si and hurled curses at her.

“It’s not really your fault,” Jiang Si said calmly. “It’s only been a few hundred years, generation after generation learning only how to survive, without ever reaching the point of improving their way of life.”

“But you’re different, aren’t you?”

“That’s why, when I called you a savage, you lost control.”

The woman fell silent. She stared blankly at Jiang Si, unsure how to respond.

Her hands were dry, dark, and dirty. Her face was streaked with mud and dust. But the look in her eyes had changed.

She was not like the others.

When Jiang Si spoke to her, when the soldiers brought her forward, the others behind her had only cowered in fear and huddled together.

“What’s your name?” Jiang Si asked.

“Ren Jiu,” the woman replied. She had calmed down and answered honestly. There was even a flicker of hope in the way she looked at Jiang Si.

“Are you a descendant of Chancellor Ren from the previous dynasty?”

“The one who was both wise and brave, respected by all. In the end, he became a casualty of the noble families’ power struggles. The former emperor feared him and exiled him to the Eastern Sea.”

“The Eastern Sea was scorching, with little food or clothing. Back when the three kingdoms were still in chaos, no one wanted to waste resources helping this place.”

Everything Jiang Si said was true. If not for Mowan Ci mentioning it, she might never have thought about it. But once it was brought up, and since she had already chosen to come here, she intended to be fully prepared.

She would need to understand the Eastern Sea’s history, terrain, customs, and how to bring it under control. All of it had to be part of her plan.

Jiang Si had already said enough to Ren Jiu. Any more would be useless, and she probably wouldn’t listen anyway. So Jiang Si waved her hand, and Wu Tai stepped forward. Under Ren Jiu’s reluctant gaze, she and the others were taken away.

Twenty or so survivors were taken with her.

The ship was large, and holding cells had already been prepared. After giving the orders, Jiang Si returned to the third floor to find Mowan Ci.

Mowan Ci hadn’t fallen asleep yet. She was lying with her eyes half closed, waiting quietly. When she heard the sound of the door, she sat up.

“Everything taken care of?” she asked.

“The first step went well enough,” Jiang Si replied.

It was Mowan Ci who had lent her the book about the history of the previous dynasty. They had discussed the strategy briefly at the start, but hadn’t talked about it again. Jiang Si wanted to say more, but Mowan Ci seemed impatient. She stood up, took Jiang Si’s hand, and said, “Get in bed. I’m really tired.”

Knowing Mowan Ci had been waiting for her was one thing. Hearing it out loud was something else entirely. Jiang Si felt a rush of warmth and followed her strength, sitting down on the bed.

They removed their clothes and held each other as they drifted off to sleep.

The ship rocked gently with the waves. Both of them slept soundly. Mowan Ci, now in her rut, clung to Jiang Si with even more dependence. When they lay together, she seemed to wrap her entire body around her.

As they neared the Eastern Sea, even the wind turned hot. Jiang Si woke up drenched in sweat. She looked out the window at the sun, which was already close to setting, and decided it was time to wake Mowan Ci.

She hadn’t eaten all day. She must be hungry by now.

But a rutting Kunze was not only clingy but also proud. Jiang Si called her name a few times, and Mowan Ci, annoyed, mumbled, “Let me sleep a little longer.”

She rarely acted so spoiled. Jiang Si paused, then gave in and let her rest.

She got up and headed to the kitchen to prepare food.

Now that they were near the Eastern Sea, she had a sudden craving for fresh seafood. But she didn’t know how to catch any, and her soldiers were clumsy. Whatever they brought back wasn’t what she wanted.

After thinking it over, Jiang Si called for Wu Tai and told him to summon Ren Jiu.

Wu Tai hesitated. Jiang Si gave him a light smile.

“There are so many soldiers in Jingwei Camp. Are you really afraid of one Ren Jiu?”

Wu Tai thought about it and agreed, then left to bring her up.

Ren Jiu had spent the entire day below deck. When she came out, the light was so bright that it made her squint. The guards hadn’t shown her any special treatment. Jiang Si noticed this and said, “Slow down,” which finally made them ease up.

Ren Jiu was brought in front of her. Jiang Si signaled for her restraints to be removed and then pointed toward the sea.

“I want crabs and shellfish. Can you catch them?”

Ren Jiu looked stunned. She hadn’t expected to be brought out for something like this. She frowned in confusion.

Jiang Si raised an eyebrow. “You can’t?”

“I can.” Ren Jiu blurted it out quickly, as if afraid Jiang Si would look down on her. When she saw Jiang Si smile, she realized she had acted too hastily.

But since she had agreed, she had to follow through. She asked for her tools.

Their original boat had been confiscated by Wu Tai and his men. The tools were left on the deck. She walked over quickly, found her fishing fork, and without a word, jumped into the sea.

Wu Tai tried to follow, afraid she might escape, but Jiang Si stopped him.

“It’s fine. There are still plenty of people below deck. She won’t run.”

They didn’t have to wait long. Less than half an hour later, Ren Jiu returned, swimming back with more seafood than Jiang Si had expected.

Jiang Si took what she wanted and waved her hand for Wu Tai to distribute the rest to the soldiers.

As for Ren Jiu…

She was clearly hungry too. She stared longingly at the food Jiang Si had taken, but didn’t say a word.

Jiang Si looked at her and asked, “Do you want something fresh to eat?”

Seafood was nothing new to people like them, but to someone like Ren Jiu, a bowl of plain white rice was what counted as fresh.

Ren Jiu didn’t answer, but Jiang Si still gave orders to feed her.

Ren Jiu stood where she was and asked stiffly, “Why are you doing this?”

“Why?” Jiang Si smiled. “Because I want to make porridge for my wife.”

“That’s not what I meant. I’m asking why you kept me alive…”

“That’s exactly what I meant,” Jiang Si said as she hurried off. “I’m going to make porridge now. We’ll talk later.”

Ren Jiu stood there, completely confused.

She called her wife.

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